Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-15
MR.. pIzElNi THE CITY HALL.
ACard from eN-AIderman william
IL. Williams.
RIcnM1Np, Va. June s. lSs

RICHMOND, Va, June 8. 1887.
10 the Editor Of the Dispatch:
In your issue Of the 7lh find in The pro-
cccdings OF The Council the following Is
spoken by Mr. Plzziul:
Whilst be was fully aware Of the fact that
other counclmen moved the direction OF oO-
tanning new City Hall before ne had been in
POSITION 20 20 80. be claimed that is con-
suuction became possible the time II did
mainly through his efforts. and that, therefore,
without egOtism. he can claim 10 be its patron
ana ClOsestficId."
We think tie foregoing language explains.
20 far a, clliulng 10 De the "patron and
closet ilsDd " % the City.Hill movement.
but tie unfortunate feature about II Il he
fails 10 give the facts which are necessary
TO sustain such claim. How FAR
-uch / Do sttutr Of or hO| far mpreg-
mated with "csoti,m." the readers OF it
must Judge. Whilst Mr. PiZZini does not
mention the name IT any councilman who
'Inoycd in the direction OF Il new city
hail. yet We suppose il i well under.
food who j. referred TO. That Mr.. PiZ.
Zini has b On an active advocate Of
new city hal more can question, but
bis claim 10 being the "pitrOn' OF
tie i.easurc III he means prime
moyUp and il closest friend /" ut
teIlN without foundation m ilct. The
gentleman will pardon this emphatic de-
nial, - 1t Is necessary TO meet an emphatic
yet unWarranlCd claim. Thi. claim thus
pubhcly made, il allowed 10 90 unnOliced,
might be considered as ~ admission Of
IL correctness. hut regard Tor the truth
II history viii not allow >uch 10 be done.
- | propose 10 zeal in facts | will DIST
call attention t. the action OF the Board
of Aldermen November II, 1873 ('ee
pIsc 20, current rec)id), and Of the
Common COuHcil NJ is next regular meet
ing held IN December on preamble set.
ting !orlh the Insecurity. g., OF the pres
ont provisions made for munlcipll and ju-
licIal departments ~ the city. and the
C,Oluiion.-tirs', directing the committee
Ito prepare ana present TO the Council the
outline, 81 q binding and a suitable lOca.
uCn for city hal"; the second, direct
ing the Finance Committee TO prepare
aud present 10 TIE Council scheme OF
finance 10 meet the expenses necessary in
the erection Of q City Hall" This pIper
wss adopted by both brsnche' OF the
Council and signed by the Mayor
Dec,n ter :. 1873. Thus in due
torn tie lega'l,-con,tituted authorities
Il the city made the initiitOry movement
by the adoption Of tho paper rs drawn and
piescricd 10y ". 81. Williams, AMI upon
these resolutions all subsequent action was
based. 90. was sci f. nth by the chIirmln Of
TIE Committee ou Finance when be sub
mitltd the scheme, e., wherein n siid
The Committee or Finance IN pursuance
~ tie annexed instructions adopted Ivy the
City Council 6Dd approved by the Mayor
UtcenbCi (. ISIS, ana in pursuance TO in.
,ituctiols from Your BODY under date Of
August ., 1880, concerning the erection OF
a new ciig hall, and IN accordance with
vote Of Toe people taken May. lSS2,' g..
Tie Instructions referred TO OF August .,
1880. were based Oh paper presented by
~. II. Williams.
There was a delay on the part OF the
Commit.ee on Grounds and Buildings,
winch i explained b. the fact (Which i
matter q record thit In 1879 the Engi.
ueO's d,raftmcnt began It's surveys PR.
IaIatory 10 the erection 81 the pump.louse
md waicr.Supply power for the citg. Thls
eugrosscd tie attention of The CITY Engi
rccr 10 = large extent, and the large outlay
u funds required II the Council incl
dental 10 securlog sufficient pumping pow.
cT caused the COMMITTEES Oh Grounds and
building, 70 DECIDE not TO urge the City
Hall matter until after the water-works
Nefc completed, winch occurred In 1852;
snd on February %, 1888. the Finance
(Ommlttee submitted their report; upon
which began tue call for plans, &c, iyr tue
ball.
Sir. Pizzini, having been elected 10 tue
Council, was amcmber Of the Finance Com
n itt,c, ard shoHed becoming interest in
csrryipg out the wishes Of the COMMITTEES IN
his branch OF the Council, but we fail 70
discover any act on his plrt TO entltie him
10 any claim such ~ be has made except
il IS based on the fact that he offered the
resolution submitting 1t to the vote Of The
people, &c. II this j. the basis | will first
call attention to the fact that this resolution
submitting IL to a vote Of the people, IN or
Der 10 secure a city hall. was entirely use
less, because, as we have already sLlted,
The prOreilI constituted authorities had
all eady made their orders In that direction.
such we're The views OF some OF the most
plomireut members OF the Council, aud
hence when II came TO the Board OF Alder
men The vote was OF courtesy ana not
from Necessity. But there was one feature
OF the paper presented by Mr.. PlzZi1i
which proved to be full OF evil 10 tue city.
would not refer to its bearing, hut q, he
hss thought it becoming In him 10 refer to
his labors and 10 make such extraordinary
claims In the premises, II is but r.gnt that
bis acts should be weighed. The resolu-
tion as drawn up by him limited the
amount Tor the building, &c, to 100000.
with this began our difficulties. IL ham
Iered The committee In its every step;
It proved 10 be the great element
Of delay, confusion, and loss TO the city
Who does not know that years pissed oy
While the committee, aided by the most
skjlful architects aud builders 10 the coun'
Try, were striving TO bring the cost OF
building suitable for our purposes and
upon plans adopted by the Council within